And The Best Reason To Do The Right Thing? Lunch At Cipriani!

Moral to the story — return someone’s laptop, get a lunch at Cipriani:

Last year, a Montreal gem dealer caught Hossam Abdalla’s cab and left behind a case loaded with nearly $1 million in titanium, gold and diamond rings when he rushed out for a meeting at the Javits Center. Abdalla, 30, discovered the stash, and promptly returned it to its owner.

Yesterday, Abdalla was named “Driver of the Year” by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission. He and dozens of other cab drivers were feted for their exemplary service on the streets of New York.

The event showcased drivers who have recovered everything from Blackberrys to backpacks and sacrificed time and money to do good deeds for their fares.

. . .

TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus called the Egyptian immigrant “a diamond in the rough.”

“This really changed me as a person,” Abdalla said of his good deed and all the attention that followed. “Honesty is a value that I have inside. If you’re in a situation to do something right, do not hesitate — do it!”

Another honoree, Virendra Shukla, wasted no time doing the right thing when Loraine Collins and her family left a video camera in the back of his cab 18 months ago. Shukla didn’t know that the camera contained a precious keepsake video diary. He also didn’t know about the $5,000 reward.

. . .

Other recipients included Serigne Tall, a Humanitarian Award winner, for helping an elderly Alzheimer’s patient who had wandered away from a hospital; Charles Juene, a Humanitarian Award winner, for helping a blind passenger; and Abouley Mbow, a Customer Care Award winner, for returning a laptop and 200- year-old artwork valued at $12,000.

. . .

Over a lunch buffet provided by Cipriani, Daus told the honored drivers to dispense with worries about traffic or fares.

“Relax and enjoy the moment,” Daus said. “You’re not on the meter.”